@article{fdi:010064100,
  title = {{F}eeding ecology and trophic position of three sympatric demersal chondrichthyans in the northwestern {M}editerranean},
  author = {{A}lbo-{P}uigserver, {M}. and {N}avarro, {J}. and {C}oll, {M}arta and {A}guzzi, {J}. and {C}ardona, {L}. and {S}aez-{L}iante, {R}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{U}nderstanding how marine predators interact is a scientific challenge. {I}n marine ecosystems, segregation in feeding habits has been largely described as a common mechanism to allow the coexistence of several competing marine predators. {H}owever, little is known about the feeding ecology of most species of chondrichthyans, which play a pivotal role in the structure of marine food webs worldwide. {I}n this study, we examined the trophic ecology of 3 relatively abundant chondrichthyans coexisting in the {M}editerranean {S}ea: the blackmouth catshark {G}aleus melastomus, the velvet belly lanternshark {E}tmopterus spinax and the rabbit fish {C}himaera monstrosa. {T}o examine their trophic ecology and interspecific differences in food habits, we combined the analysis of stomach content and stable isotopes. {O}ur results highlighted a trophic segregation between {C}. monstrosa and the other 2 species. {G}. melastomus showed a diet composed mainly of cephalopods, while {E}. spinax preyed mainly on shrimps and {C}. monstrosa on crabs. {I}nterspecific differences in the trophic niche were likely due to different feeding capabilities and body size. {E}ach species showed different isotopic niche space and trophic level. {S}pecifically, {C}. monstrosa showed a higher trophic level than {E}. spinax and {G}. melastomus. {T}he high trophic levels of the 3 species highlighted their important role as predators in the marine food web. {O}ur results illustrate the utility of using complementary approaches that provide information about the feeding behaviour at short (stomach content) and long-term scales (stable isotopes), which could allow more efficient monitoring of marine food-web changes in the study area.},
  keywords = {{F}eeding niche ; {I}sotope analysis ; {M}editerranean {S}ea ; {G}aleus melastomus ; {E}tmopterus spinax ; {C}himaera monstrosa ; {MEDITERRANEE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}arine {E}cology {P}rogress {S}eries},
  volume = {524},
  numero = {},
  pages = {255--268},
  ISSN = {0171-8630},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.3354/meps11188},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010064100},
}